Google returned about 1.5 million hits for the search phrase "Physics Sucks". That is about twice as many hits for "Math Sucks" and a hundred thousand more than what I got for "Chemistry Sucks". (My intention, by the way, was not to use a vulgar search term. Instead, it is probably the most likely phrase a frustrated college student might use in association with a painful course, required or elective.)
I believe that, in addition to the student being a Science junkie, sustained effort is required to tame the Physics beast. Then it can be very rewarding. But my experience tells me it is next to impossible to ask the current generation of entitled and distracted college students to put in an honest minimum of three hours of work every week. Therefore, it makes sense to compare enrollment, retention and course completion rates for Physics on a yardstick different from that for humanities, math and even other Science courses.
But is there a way to establish a tradition of a Physics course that draws in students promising high quality teaching delivered for comparatively low cost to students? The built-in promise is "Hang in there; we, the faculty at a two year college also throw in small class sizes and caring, highly qualified instructors for no additional cost. it will be well worth your effort." When the course runs like a well oiled machine, class after class of students have come in and finally succeeded in Physics after failing at four year institutions, then it is time to jack up course tuition! If I sound like a greedy entrepreneur, I am just following the good old American know how of the technology era: websites that give compelling, quality content free for a trial peiod, draw in millions of users and then promptly build a paywall.
Ah, if only the departments at public institutions had the leeway to set different tiers of tuition...
(To be continued)
